Genus Colonus

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Numbers · Identification · Range · Print References · Works Cited

Jumping spider - Colonus sylvanus - male

Do I know you? Thiodina hespera, right? - Colonus hesperus

Jumping Spider - Colonus sylvanus - female

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates)

Class Arachnida (Arachnids)

Order Araneae (Spiders)

Infraorder Araneomorphae (True Spiders)

No Taxon (Entelegynae)

Family Salticidae (Jumping Spiders)

Genus Colonus

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

See the World Spider Catalog.

All three species were previously placed in the genus Thiodina.

Numbers

There are 3 species in BugGuide's range (North America north of Mexico).

Identification

One helpful diagnostic character for this genus is the presence of two pairs of ventral bulbous setae on tibia I, seen on a preserved specimen here:

This character is apparently present on both adults and immature spiders.

In the eastern species, male C. puerperus and male C. sylvanus can be distinguished by the shape of the white blotch on the dorsal surface of the cephalothorax. It is more of a longitudinal line in C. puerperus and a circle/square in C. sylvanus.

Additional notes on distinguishing eastern Colonus males can be found here or in Hill, 2018 (1).

Range

Colonus hesperus can be found from New Mexico to California in BugGuide's range. (2)

Colonus puerperus can be found in the eastern half of the United States.(2)

Colonus sylvanus can be found in the eastern half of the United States.(2)

Print References

Hill, D. E. 2018. Notes on the jumping spiders Colonus puerperus (Hentz 1846) and Colonus sylvanus (Hentz 1846) in the southeastern United States (Araneae: Salticidae: Amycoida: Gophoini). Peckhamia 99.2: 1-63.

Richman, D.B. and R.S. Vetter, 2004. A review of the spider genus Thiodina (Araneae, Salticidae) in the United States. The Journal of Arachnology 32(3):418-431. A download is available on the AAS website.

Works Cited

1.	Notes on the jumping spiders Colonus puerperus and Colonus sylvanus in the southeastern United States Hill, David E. 2018.

2.	A review of the spider genus Thiodina (Araneae, Salticidae) in the United States David B. Richman & Richard S. Vetter. 2004. The Journal of Arachnology 32: 418-431.

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 1:20pm
Additional contributions by john and jane balaban, Jay Barnes, Jeff Hollenbeck, cheins, kschnei, Mandy Howe
Last updated 15 December, 2022 - 7:55am

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version